Container for providing easy access to beverage cans

ABSTRACT

A container having a multiplicity of cans therein. The container disclosed is modified from a rectangular, closed wall container to a container with part of the walls removed, thereby allowing easy access to the cans of the container. Applicant discloses a unique relationship between the walls of the opened container and the size of the beverage cans. Applicant also discloses a method for constructing a closed container that may be easily modified to remove the cans of the container.

This is a continuation of and claims priority from and incorporates byreference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/987,712, filed Nov. 24,2004, which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/935,209, filed Sep. 7, 2004, which is acontinuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/388,951, filed Mar. 14, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,673, issuedSep. 14, 2004); which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/946,004, filed Sep. 4, 2001 (U.S. Pat.No. 6,550,651); which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/542,661, filed Apr. 4, 2000 (U.S. Pat.No. 6,283,293).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Beverage can containers, more specifically a beverage can container forproviding easy access to the beverage cans contained therein.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Beverages, such as soda or beer, often come in cylindrical, aluminum,typically 12 oz. cans. Traditionally, one could buy a single can or a“six pack.” The six pack is simply six cans contained in a typicallyrectangular paper container or hung on interconnected plastic rings.

More recently, cans of soda and beer have become available in packs oftwelve cans. The twelve pack is typically rectangular cardboard with thecans, usually in a 4×3 matrix arrangement, stacked closely next to oneanother. The twelve pack has walls typically constructed of lightcardboard or thick paperboard, being thicker than writing stock paperbut not as robust or thick as corrugated cardboard. These twelve packspresently enjoy popularity with use by Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola, the twoleading providers of soda as well as by many major domestic beercompanies.

The twelve pack containers provide a convenient means to carry thebeverage cans but are not handy for dispensing the cans. Typically, theconsumer will purchase the twelve pack, bring it home, tear the packopen and pull out the cans to stack them in the refrigerator, discardingthe container. Applicant provides, however, for a modification to thecurrently available twelve pack to convert the carrying container to adispensing container. That is, the cans will remain within the carryingcontainer, the container acting, as modified by applicant as a beveragecan dispenser.

An object of Applicant's present invention is to provide for a containerfor beverage cans which will allow easy access to the beverage cans foreasy removal but will also hold the beverage cans therein.

It is also an object of Applicant's present invention to provide amodification to currently existing beverage can containers so that thecontainers, as modified, will provide easy access to the cans therein.

This and other objects are provided for in a generally rectangular,paper beverage can container with a corner removed on a diagonal lineacross the two side walls, the line running from a front wall to theadjacent top wall.

There are a number of benefits with Applicant's novel beverage containerwith a dispensing cutout therein. These include ease of access. This isobtained by placing the twelve pack container on edge with a cutout inthe upper corner. Easy and fast accessibility to the cold beverage canswill increase consumption and sales of the product.

Applicant's invention also provides for gravity feed to enhance accessto the beverage cans. This is created by the weight of the cans when thebeverage container is placed in a vertical position. This positionnaturally pushes the cans, under the influence of gravity, towards thefront wall of the container. The cutout location is designed to takemaximum advantage of this gravity feed.

Another advantage of Applicant's invention is the ability to effectivelyutilize space, especially in a refrigerator or kitchen cabinet. Byplacement of the cutout in the position indicated, the container may beplaced vertically to save space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of applicantsinvention.

FIG. 1A is side view of a 12 oz. beverage can.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the beverage container modifiedaccordingly to Applicant's invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment ofapplicants invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of Applicantsinvention.

FIG. 4 is a two dimensional pattern of a typical paper twelve packcontainer illustrating the area removed to provide for applicants uniquedispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Line 12A shows the position of a line on the front wall of a beveragecontainer from one side wall to the next, the line being straight andmeeting the edge between the front wall and the side wall at a 90°angle. The line 12D shows the position of a diagonal line across each ofthe two side walls between the front wall and the top wall, lines 12D,at 12B and 12C showing a preferred range of the position of line 12Dwith respect to the top wall. Line 12E is a line across the top wall,one side wall to the next and perpendicular to the edges of the topwall. The beverage container will be cut through along lines 12A, 12Dand 12E to remove section 12 from the rest of the container (See FIG.1B). The position of lines 12A, 12D and 12E may be premarked, scored (orotherwise weaken) by the manufacturer of the beverage container so as todirect the consumer to the position for cutting and removing portion 12.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modified twelve pack container 10 withcylindrical aluminum 12 oz. beverage cans A packed inside in a 4×3arrangement and designating two side walls S/W, a top wall T/W, a bottomwall B/W, a front wall F/W and a rear wall R/W. It is noted that the twoside walls have the greatest surface area, the top and bottom wallshaving a surface area between the two side walls and the front and rearwalls, which have the least surface area. A support surface, such as arefrigerator shelf, is designated SS. The top, bottom, front and rearwalls are defined when the container is placed on a support surface, asillustrated in FIG. 1, with the F/W chosen to provide for the mostconvenient access. FIG. 1 also illustrates Applicant's modification,being a cut or removed portion 12, the removed portion being a corner ofthe container where the front wall meets the top wall and defined by adiagonal line across the two sidewalls between the front wall and thetop wall, and a line across the top wall and across the front wall, thisline along which the removed portion is defined designated 12A.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of the twelve pack of FIG. 1wherein the dimension designated D is the approximate diameter of a 12oz. aluminum beverage can, typically about 6.6 centimeters. As can beseen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the typical twelve pack beverage container is alittle over 4 diameters long (about 26 cms) and about 3 “diameters” high(about 20 cms) to enclose therein, in a 3×4 matrix, twelve cans.Furthermore it sometimes includes a handle 14 thereon, the handletypically being walls defining a cut out in the top wall for the receiptof a hand thereinto. The height (H) of a typical 12 oz. metal beveragecan is about 12.6 cm.

In FIG. 2 it is seen that Applicant modifies the standard heavy paperwall twelve pack container by cutting off the corner created by thejoinder of the front wall and top wall. This is preferably done in themanner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The preferred height of the frontwall defined after the cut across the front wall is less than twodiameters but greater than one diameter, more preferably between 1.50and 1.80 times D. Indeed, the most preferred height of the front walldefining the cut to remove portion 12 is between 1¼ diameter and 1¾diameter. Such dimension allows easy receipt of the second course ofcans but is high enough to prevent the second course of cans fromfalling out when there are still 3 courses in the container.

The preferred length of the top wall defined after the cut is between 1and 3 diameters, preferably between 1 and 2 diameters. These cutdimensions are illustrated by lines 12B and 12C set forth in FIG. 2.

Cuts along the lines 12A, 12D and 12E may be made with a knife, razor orany other suitable instrument. When the cuts are made as set forth inFIGS. 1 and 2, portion 12 can be removed (See FIG. 1B) and the singlecan at the top corner will then be removed and the container placed inthe position illustrated in FIG. 1 for easy dispensing of the remainingcans.

FIG. 3 provides for a diagonal cut 12C across the side walls S/W's thatterminates adjacent handle 14. Handle 14, in a 4×3 twelve pack isusually at 2 diameters from a top edge (half way across top wall T/W) toprovide for proper balance.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flattened twelve pack pattern 16 which will foldtogether to provide for a typical twelve pack with dimension. Handle 14is illustrated. Scored line 18 is made as part of the process ofconstructing the container, typically after the outer perimeter 20defining the pattern 16 of the box is formed. Scored line 18 may begrooves, scratches or notches, or any other means known in the trade toweaken the paperboard such that it is easier for the user to removeportion twelve. Indeed, with proper scoring in ways known in the trade,it is fairly easy to remove portion twelve without a cutting instrument.Note in FIG. 4 that folding the pattern 16 will provide for the twelvepack illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 with the diagonal line 12D running acrossthe side walls from the front wall F/W to the top wall T/W.

In an alternate preferred embodiment Applicant provides a twelve packcontainer with a line marked on the front wall F/W at between 1D and 2D,on the top wall T/W between 1D and 3D and across the two side wallsS/W's to define the pattern for removal of a corner 12 of a twelve packcontainer as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 to show a consumer that they maycut the container along the line to convert it into the Applicants noveldispenser container as illustrated.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limitedsense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well asalternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent topersons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of theinvention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims willcover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

1. A container comprising: a plurality of walls including a front wall,a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and two side walls, the wallscontaining a multiplicity of stacked cylindrical cans in substantiallyperpendicular can columns and can rows, the can columns located betweenthe front wall and the rear wall, there being at least a top can row anda next-to-the-top can row, the top can row including a forward most canadjacent the front wall such that the forward most can is in contactwith the front wall, and a rearward most can adjacent the rear wall suchthat the rearward most can is in contact with the rear wall, each canhaving a can top, a can bottom, a can height, a can diameter, and alongitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall, wherein thetop wall and the bottom wall are spaced apart by a whole multiple of thecan diameter, the two side walls are spaced apart by the can height, andthe front wall and rear wall are spaced apart by a whole multiple of thecan diameter; a removable access portion, the removable access portioncomprised of a portion of each of the top wall, the front wall and thetwo side walls, the removable access portion defined by scored linesegments on each of the front, top, and side walls such that removal ofthe removable access portion leaves a pair of side wall edges runningfrom a location at the front wall that is spaced apart from the top wallto a location at the top wall that is spaced apart from the front wall,which side wall edges expose a substantial part of the can top and thecan bottom of the forward most can, for ease of removal of the forwardmost can, and removal of the removable access portion further providesaccess to the cans remaining after removal of the forward most can; anda handle positioned in the top wall; wherein the scored line segment onthe front wall is located such that, after removal of the removableaccess portion, the front wall retains the cans in the next-to-the-topcan row from rolling out of the container when the bottom wall isresting flat on a support surface.
 2. A container holding a multiplicityof cylindrical cans, the container comprising: an even number of thecylindrical cans, each can comprising a can diameter and a can height,each can further comprising a longitudinal axis; a rear wall having arear wall height; a front wall spaced apart from the rear wall by awhole multiple of the can diameter, the front wall having a front wallscored line segment spaced apart from the top wall, the front wall beingsubstantially parallel to the longitudinal axes; a bottom wall; a topwall spaced apart from the bottom wall by a whole multiple of the candiameter, the top wall having a top wall scored line segment spacedapart from the front wall; and two side walls, each of the side wallshaving a side wall scored line segment running from the front wall at alocation that is spaced apart from the top wall to a location at the topwall that is spaced apart from the front wall, the side walls separatedby the can height.
 3. The container of claim 2 wherein: the cans arecontained in the container and arranged to have a top row having an evennumber of cans only; the top wall includes a handle centrally located onthe top wall; and each of the side wall scored line segments runs fromthe top wall scored line segment to the front wall scored line segment.4. A container holding a multiplicity of substantially identical itemsarranged in a plurality of substantially perpendicular rows and columns,each item having an item diameter and an item height, wherein thearrangement has a top row and a next-to-the-top row, and wherein eachcolumn has a column width of the item diameter and each row has a rowheight of the item diameter, comprising: a rear wall having a rear wallheight; a bottom wall for resting on a support surface; a front wallspaced apart from the rear wall by a whole multiple of the column width,the front wall having a front wall scored line, at least a portion ofthe front wall scored line being at a height less than the rear wallheight but sufficiently high to restrain the next-to-the-top row ofitems when the bottom wall is resting on the support surface; a top wallspaced apart from the bottom wall by a whole multiple of the row height,the top wall having a top wall scored line, at least a portion of thetop wall scored line being spaced apart from the front wall; two sidewalls, each of the side walls having a side wall scored line runningfrom the front wall, at a location spaced apart from the top wall, tothe top wall at a location spaced apart from the front wall, the sidewalls separated by the item height; and wherein each of the itemscomprises a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall.5. A container holding a multiplicity of cylindrical cans, each canhaving a can diameter and a can height, the container comprising: a rearwall and a front wall each having a height and being separated by aneven whole multiple of the can diameter; a bottom wall and a top wallseparated by a whole multiple of the can diameter; a handle centrallylocated in the top wall; two side walls between the bottom and topwalls, the side walls separated by the can height; and a scored linehaving (a) a front wall segment that runs on the front wall from oneside wall to the other side wall and is spaced apart from the top wall,(b) a top wall segment that runs on the top wall from one side wall tothe other side wall and is spaced apart from the front wall, and (c) aside wall segment on each of the side walls that connects the front wallsegment with the top wall segment, the scored line defining a removablesection of the container; wherein each of the cans comprises alongitudinal axis, and wherein the front wall is substantially parallelto the longitudinal axis.
 6. A method of providing easy access to itemsarranged in a container in a plurality of substantially perpendicularrows and columns, each item having an item diameter and an item height,wherein the arrangement has a top row and a next-to-the-top row, andwherein each column has a column width of the item diameter and each rowhas a row height of the item diameter, comprising: providing arectangular paper container comprising six rectangular walls includingtwo side walls separated by the item height, a front wall and a rearwall separated by a whole multiple of the column width, a top wall, anda bottom wall adapted to rest on a support surface, the bottom wall andtop wall separated by a whole multiple of the row height, the rear wallhaving a rear wall height; scoring a front wall score on the front wall,at least a part of the front wall score being made at a height less thanthe rear wall height but sufficiently high to restrain thenext-to-the-top row of items when the bottom wall is resting on thesupport surface and when the front wall is separated at the front wallscore; scoring a top wall score on the top wall, at least a part of thetop wall score being spaced apart from the front wall; scoring side wallscores on the side walls; and forming a handle feature in the top wall;wherein the side wall scores connect the front wall score and the topwall score such that the scores define a section, the removal of whichallows easy access to the items, and wherein each of the items comprisesa longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall.
 7. Acontainer comprising: an even number only of substantially identicalcylindrical items contained within the container, each item having aheight and a diameter; and a rectangular carton, adapted to contain theitems in a row and column arrangement of substantially perpendicularrows and columns, the row and column arrangement including a top row anda next-to-the-top row, the rectangular carton including a front wall, arear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall for resting on a level supportsurface, and two side walls, the rectangular carton further adapted toenclose the items such that the front wall and rear wall are separatedby a whole multiple of the item diameter, the top wall and bottom wallare separated by a whole multiple of the item diameter, and the sidewalls are separated by the item height, and wherein the carton includesa scored line having a front wall segment running on the front wall andspaced apart from the top wall, a top wall segment running on the topwall and spaced apart from the front wall, and a side wall segmentrunning on each of the side walls and connecting the front wall segmentto the top wall segment, the scored line defining a removable section ofthe container, such that removal of a front wall portion along the frontwall segment, removal of a side wall portion along each of the side wallsegments, and removal of a top wall portion along the top wall segmentprovides an opening that allows easy access to the items.
 8. A method ofmanufacturing a container: providing a paper sheet member; forming ahandle feature on the sheet member; folding the sheet member around aplurality of items, each of the items having an item height, an itemdiameter, and a longitudinal axis, such that the folded sheet memberdefines a generally rectangular container having a top wall, a bottomwall, a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls containing the itemsarranged in a plurality of substantially perpendicular rows and columns,the plurality of rows containing at least a top row and anext-to-the-top row, wherein a row height is equal to the item diameter,and wherein the front wall and the rear wall are separated by a wholemultiple of the item diameter and the top wall and the bottom wall areseparated by a whole multiple of the row height, and the side walls areseparated by the item height, and wherein folding the sheet memberfurther comprises orienting the front wall substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axes; and scoring a portion of the sheet member with ascore line such that (a) at least a portion of the score line is on thefront wall spaced apart from the top wall, (b) at least a portion of thescore line is on the top wall spaced apart from the front wall, and (c)at least a portion of the score line is on each of the side walls,wherein the portion of the score line located on each of the side wallsconnects the portion of the score line that is on the top wall and onthe front wall.
 9. A container comprising: a plurality of items, eachitem comprising an item diameter and an item height, each item furthercomprising a longitudinal axis; a rear wall having a rear wall height; afront wall spaced apart from the rear wall by a whole multiple of theitem diameter, the front wall being substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axes; a bottom wall; a top wall spaced apart from thebottom wall by a whole multiple of the item diameter; two side wallsseparated by the item height; and a scored line having a front wallsegment, a top wall segment, and side wall segments, wherein (a) thefront wall segment runs on the front wall from one side wall to theother side wall and at least a portion of the front wall segment runsalong the front wall at a height that is lower than the rear wallheight, (b) the top wall segment runs on the top wall from one side wallto the other side wall and is spaced apart from the front wall, and (c)the side wall segments connect the front wall segment with the top wallsegment.
 10. A container holding a multiplicity of items, the containercomprising: an even number of the items only, each item comprising anitem diameter and an item height, each item further comprising alongitudinal axis; a rear wall having a rear wall height; a front wallspaced apart from the rear wall by a whole multiple of the itemdiameters, the front wall having a front wall scored line segment spacedapart from the top wall, the front wall being substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axes; a bottom wall; a top wall spaced apart from thebottom wall by a whole multiple of the item diameter and having a topwall scored line segment spaced apart from the front wall; and two sidewalls, each of the side walls having a side wall scored line segmentrunning from the front wall to the top wall and connecting the frontwall scored line segment and the top wall scored line segment, the sidewalls separated by the item height.
 11. A container holding amultiplicity of substantially identical cans arranged in a plurality ofsubstantially perpendicular rows and columns, each can having a candiameter and a can height, wherein the arrangement has a top row and anext-to-the-top row, and wherein each column has a column width of thecan diameter and each row has a row height of the can diameter,comprising: a rear wall having a rear wall height; a bottom wall forresting on a support surface having; a front wall spaced apart from therear wall by an whole multiple of the column width and having a frontwall scored line segment spaced apart from the top wall that defines afront wall edge that is located at a height less than the rear wallheight but sufficiently high to restrain the next-to-the-top row of canswhen the bottom wall is resting on the support surface and the frontwall is separated along the front wall scored line segment; a top wallspaced apart from the bottom wall by a whole multiple of the row heightand having a top wall scored line segment spaced apart from the frontwall; and two side walls, each of the side walls having a side wallscored line segment connecting the front wall scored line segment to thetop wall scored line segment, the side walls separated by the canheight; wherein each of the cans comprises a longitudinal axissubstantially parallel to the front wall.
 12. A container holding amultiplicity of cylindrical cans, each can having a can diameter and acan height, the container comprising: a rear wall and a front wallspaced apart by a whole multiple of the can diameter; a bottom wall anda top wall spaced apart by a whole multiple of the can diameter, the topwall including a handle; two side walls between the bottom and topwalls, the side walls spaced apart by the can height; and a scored linehaving a front wall segment running on the front wall and spaced apartfrom the top wall, a top wall segment running on the top wall and spacedapart from the front wall, and side wall segments running on the sidewalls, the scored line defining a removable section of the container;wherein each of the cans comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein thefront wall is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of thecans.
 13. A method of providing easy access to twelve items only thatare arranged in a container in a plurality of substantiallyperpendicular rows and columns, each item having an item diameter and anitem height, wherein the arrangement has a top row and a next-to-the-toprow, and wherein each column has a column width of the item diameter andeach row has a row height of the item diameter, comprising: providing arectangular paper container comprising six rectangular walls includingtwo side walls separated by the item height, a front wall and a rearwall separated by a whole multiple of the column width, and a top wallhaving a handle and a bottom wall adapted to rest on a support surface,the bottom wall and the top wall separated by a whole multiple of therow height, the rear wall having a rear wall height; scoring a frontwall score on the front wall, at least a part of the front wall scorebeing made at a height less than the rear wall height but sufficientlyhigh to restrain the next-to-the-top row of items when the bottom wallis resting on the support surface and when the front wall is separatedat the front wall score; scoring a top wall score on the top wall spacedapart from the front wall; and scoring side wall scores on the sidewalls, each of the side wall scores running from the front wall score tothe top wall score; wherein the scores define a section, the removal ofwhich allows easy access to the twelve items, and wherein each of theitems comprises a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the frontwall.
 14. A container comprising: a multiplicity of substantiallyidentical items held in the container in a plurality of rows, each itemhaving an item diameter, an item height, and a longitudinal axis,wherein each row has a row height of the item diameter; a rear wall anda front wall each being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axesof the items, the rear wall and front wall separated by a whole multipleof the item diameter, the rear wall having a rear wall height; a bottomwall and a top wall separated by a whole multiple of the row height; twoside walls between the bottom and top walls, the side walls separated bythe item height; the rear, front, bottom, top, and side walls forming asubstantially rectangular carton holding the items in an arrangementwherein each row includes a forward most item in contact with the frontwall and a rearward most item in contact with the rear wall; and ascored line having a front wall segment running on the front wall spacedapart from the top wall, a top wall segment running on the top wallspaced apart from the front wall, and a side wall segment running oneach of the side walls from a location at the front wall that is spacedapart from the top wall to a location at the top wall that is spacedapart from the front wall, the scored line defining a removable sectionof the container.
 15. The container of claim 14, wherein each of theitems comprises a beverage can.
 16. The container of claim 14, whereinthe multiplicity of substantially identical items is an even number ofsubstantially identical items only.
 17. The container of claim 16,wherein each of the items comprises a beverage can.
 18. The container ofclaim 16, and further comprising a handle centrally located on the topwall.
 19. The container of claim 18, wherein the plurality of rowsincludes a top row having an even number of substantially identicalitems only.
 20. A container comprising: a multiplicity of substantiallyidentical items held in the container in a plurality of rows, each itemhaving an item diameter, an item height, and a longitudinal axis,wherein each row has a row height of the item diameter; a rear wall anda front wall each being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axesof the items, the rear wall and front wall separated by a whole multipleof the item diameter, the rear wall having a rear wall height; a bottomwall and a top wall separated by a whole multiple of the row height; twoside walls between the bottom and top walls, the side walls separated bythe item height; the rear, front, bottom, top, and side walls forming asubstantially rectangular carton holding the items in an arrangementwherein the plurality of rows comprises a top row and a next-to-the-toprow, and each item in the top row is centered on a corresponding item inthe next-to-the-top row to form a plurality of pairs of items wherein,for each pair of items, the longitudinal axes of the items in the pairof items are both in a plane that is substantially parallel to the frontand rear walls and to a corresponding plane for each of the other pairsof items; and a scored line having a front wall segment running on thefront wall spaced apart from the top wall, a top wall segment running onthe top wall spaced apart from the front wall, and a side wall segmentrunning on each of the side walls from a location at the front wall thatis spaced apart from the top wall to a location at the top wall that isspaced apart from the front wall, the scored line defining a removablesection of the container.
 21. The container of claim 20, wherein each ofthe items comprises a beverage can.
 22. The container of claim 20,wherein the multiplicity of substantially identical items is an evennumber of substantially identical items only.
 23. The container of claim22, wherein each of the items comprises a beverage can.
 24. Thecontainer of claim 22, and further comprising a handle centrally locatedon the top wall.
 25. The container of claim 24, wherein the plurality ofrows includes a top row having an even number of substantially identicalitems only.
 26. A container comprising: a multiplicity of substantiallyidentical items held in the container in a plurality of rows, each itemhaving an item diameter, an item height, and a longitudinal axis,wherein each row has a row height of the item diameter; a rear wall anda front wall each being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axesof the items, the rear wall and front wall separated by a whole multipleof the item diameter, the rear wall having a rear wall height; a bottomwall and a top wall separated by a whole multiple of the row height; twoside walls between the bottom and top walls, the side walls separated bythe item height; the rear, front, bottom, top, and side walls forming asubstantially rectangular carton holding the items in an arrangementwherein the items in each row, with reference to the front and rearwalls, are not staggered with respect to the items in any other row; anda scored line having a front wall segment running on the front wallspaced apart from the top wall, a top wall segment running on the topwall spaced apart from the front wall, and a side wall segment runningon each of the side walls from a location at the front wall that isspaced apart from the top wall to a location at the top wall that isspaced apart from the front wall, the scored line defining a removablesection of the container.
 27. The container of claim 26, wherein each ofthe items comprises a beverage can.
 28. The container of claim 26,wherein the multiplicity of substantially identical items is an evennumber of substantially identical items only.
 29. The container of claim28, wherein each of the items comprises a beverage can.
 30. Thecontainer of claim 28, and further comprising a handle centrally locatedon the top wall.
 31. The container of claim 30, wherein the plurality ofrows includes a top row having an even number of substantially identicalitems only.